A former London paramedic who joined the ambulance service as a teenager has celebrated an incredible 50 years of serving the capital.
Noel Thomas, now a workshop technician, was just 17 when he began his career with the London Ambulance Service (LAS) as a cadet in 1976.
He was recently honoured with a long-service certificate by LAS chief executive Jason Killens at a ceremony held at the organisation’s Waterloo headquarters.
Mr Thomas said: "The ambulance service has changed so much since I joined all those years ago.
"Our 999 call handlers receive so many more calls now compared to when I first started in 1976.
"And when we received jobs, we answered the phones at our stations and were given a map reference with the location of the patient.
"Ambulances did not have sat nav – we had to rely on reading maps."
Mr Thomas trained as a paramedic at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington after completing an intubation and infusion course at Central Middlesex Hospital.
During his career, he worked out of Park Royal, Willesden, Wembley, and Brent, witnessing major changes in the service as London’s population grew and technology advanced.
Read more
- The London Tube station where you can enter in one borough and leave in another
- One of London's most anticipated restaurants has just opened in Soho
- More than 60 dining experiences announced for London Restaurant Festival
- The London Dungeon's new Halloween experience is based on a real Victorian legend
He said: "Ambulance crews also very much focused on ‘scoop and run’ where your job was to get patients to hospital as quickly as possible.
"Now, much more advanced care is provided on scene.
"When I joined as a teenager, it also felt like a military organisation.
"As cadets, we had uniform inspections and had to clean our spaces like soldiers do in the army."
Mr Killens praised Mr Thomas’ dedication and service to the city.
He said: "Noel has touched the lives of Londoners for 50 years.
"He has seen how the Service has adapted to meet the needs of Londoners over the last five decades.
"We are incredibly proud of Noel for reaching this incredible milestone.
"And he should be very proud of this achievement too."
Some of Mr Thomas’ fondest memories involve delivering babies while on duty.
He said: "I loved delivering babies.
"That was always such a special moment and I can remember most of them to this day.
"You’re helping to bring life into the world.
"It was the best part of my job."
For more than 30 years, Mr Thomas worked alongside his long-time crewmate Christine Money.
Ms Money, who is now retired, said: "Noel is a special kind of person.
"He manages to put everyone at ease which has been a great asset.
"He has a lot of patience, is very modest, and has a great sense of humour.
"Over the years we have laughed a lot and cried many a time as we grew old together."
Mr Thomas said: "I have been blessed that I have done something I’ve loved so much.
"Being a paramedic does have its challenges, but with a crewmate like Christine you felt like you can achieve anything."
He became a paramedic in the 1990s after London Ambulance Service hosted its first ever paramedic training programme and later retired in 2016.
However, he returned to the service in 2019, joining the Make Ready team, which prepares ambulances for each shift.
Mr Thomas said: "It was by coincidence that I came back as I had met someone who worked at the Service and suggested that I return.
"It felt like I was coming home and it’s been great seeing old friends again."
Share